US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the United States would not kill Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “for now,” while seemingly demanding Tehran’s surrender.
His comments mark a dramatic escalation in rhetoric as Israel, a US ally, continued to exchange fire with Iran for a fifth consecutive day.
Trump’s remarks about Khamenei fuel speculation about potential US involvement in Israel’s attacks, despite Washington’s previous insistence on non-participation.
The Israeli military reported targeting drone and missile sites in western Iran with at least two waves of strikes on Tuesday.
Israel also claimed to have killed senior Iranian commander Ali Shadmani in an overnight strike on a “command centre in the heart of Tehran,” just four days after the reported death of his predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid, in Israel’s initial surprise attack.
These Israeli actions provoked retaliatory fire from Iran, with explosions heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and air raid sirens sounding near Dimona, a southern town home to a nuclear power plant.
No immediate impacts were reported in those areas. Days after a senior US official indicated Trump had advised Israel against assassinating Khamenei, the US President’s Truth Social post appeared to reconsider the option: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target but is safe there—we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.” Trump added, “But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers.” Our patience is wearing thin,” later demanding “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump had expressed a desire for “a real end” to the conflict and convened a National Security Council meeting to discuss the situation.
Despite increasing international calls for de-escalation, neither side has backed down from the aerial assaults that began Friday with Israel’s unprecedented bombing campaign against Iranian nuclear and military facilities.
Iranian media reported multiple explosions in the central city of Isfahan, home to nuclear sites, and across Tehran on Tuesday.
Iran’s armed forces warned residents in Tel Aviv and Haifa to evacuate, threatening “punitive operations,” and the Revolutionary Guards claimed to have launched an attack on Israeli air bases.
Both countries have reported deadly strikes on residential areas, prompting foreign governments to evacuate their citizens. A cyberattack also reportedly crippled Sepah Bank, a major state-owned Iranian bank.
Fear of violence has led many Tehran residents to flee, with long queues forming at bakeries and petrol stations as remaining residents stock up on supplies. Security checkpoints have been established across the capital, heightening tension. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth confirmed the US was deploying “additional capabilities” to the Middle East, with an aircraft carrier reportedly en route.
International reactions have been varied. China accused Trump of “pouring oil” on the conflict, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labelled Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu “the biggest threat to the security of the region.”
At a G7 summit in Canada on Monday, leaders, including Trump, called for “de-escalation,” while affirming Israel’s right to self-defence and stating that “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel launched its air campaign, claiming it aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—an ambition Tehran denies.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog reported “direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls” at Iran’s Natanz facility.
Israel has maintained secrecy regarding its nuclear activities, but SIPRI estimates it possesses 90 nuclear warheads.
The escalating conflict has derailed recent nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, with Iran refusing to negotiate while under attack.
Since Friday, Netanyahu’s office reported at least 24 deaths and hundreds wounded in Israel, while Iran last reported 224 fatalities on Sunday.
Netanyahu stated that Israel’s campaign was “changing the face of the Middle East,” potentially leading to “radical changes inside Iran itself.”
